Dallas Cowboys young tight ends have earn more snaps

Although all eyes are on Jason Witten’s return from retirement, the young tight ends on the Dallas Cowboys’ roster benefited from his absence.

Nothing beats experience when it comes to development in the NFL. And that’s exactly what the young Dallas Cowboys‘ tight end group received last season after the abrupt retirement of future Hall of Famer Jason Witten last May.

Witten had been entrenched as the Cowboys’ longtime starter for much of his legendary 15-year career. And many talented tight ends, like Anthony Fasano and Martellus Bennett, wilted under his massive shadow. And that shade extended over the current crop of youngsters at the position as well.

Players like Blake Jarwin, Geoff Swaim, and Rico Gathers all struggled to gain experience while Witten dominated the snaps. That was until last May when the 11-time Pro Bowler up and retired to become a color commentator for ESPN’s Monday Night Football broadcast. His exodus opened the door for Jarwin, Swaim, Gathers, and rookie Dalton Schultz to gain some valuable experience.

But it also meant the Cowboys entered last season with one of the most inexperienced tight end units in the entire NFL. Before last year, the four combined had posted a total of nine catches for 94 yards in the regular season. All of which was recorded by Swaim alone in his first three years as a pro.

Without Witten in the lineup, the Cowboys started Swaim for nine games, but he was limited due to a wrist injury that eventually landed him on injured reserve. In his place, Schultz started seven games, Jarwin six and Gathers four.

And it was Jarwin that seemed to benefit the most, turning in a career-altering performance in Week 17 posting a ridiculous stat-line of seven receptions for 119 yards and three touchdowns against the New York Giants. It was the second time in four games he posted seven catches in a game.

It was legitimate proof that young tight ends on the roster were benefiting from the experience afforded to them due to Witten’s retirement. Riding high off their regular season on-the-job training, Swaim earned himself a two-year deal as a free agent from the Jacksonville Jaguars worth up to a reported $5.5 million.

As for Jarwin, Schultz, and Gathers, the Cowboys hoped their development would continue to trend upward in 2019. But has Witten’s return from retirement this offseason put a monkey wrench in those plans?

Here’s what longtime columnist for DallasCowboys.com Mickey Spagnola wrote recently on the team’s official website about the growth of the younger tight ends on the roster alongside Witten this offseason.

"” … also impressive in the passing game have been last year’s fourth-round pick Dalton Schultz and Blake Jarwin, the undrafted free agent in his third season. All three have played prominent roles during team periods and especially during two-minute drills. Amazing what a year of experience has done for those two young guys.”"

Now that Jason Witten has returned from retirement, some might view his presence as a stumbling block for the other tight ends on the Dallas Cowboys roster. Yet, the coaching staff is likely to limit the 37-year old’s snaps after being out of football for more than a year. And this young group has certainly earned themselves more playing time. Their continued growth this offseason only proves the Cowboys should look to the future of the tight end position more when doling out the snaps in 2019.